The Committee on Standards is conducting an inquiry into the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules to run alongside the Parliamentary Commissioner’s current review. The Commissioner, who is independent of the Committee, has announced that there are likely to be several stages to her review process over the course of this year:
- Her first consultation on the fundamental purpose of the Code and the audience to which it is directed
- A second consultation on detailed changes to the rules
- Finally, the Commissioner will make her recommendations to the Committee on Standards, which will consult on those changes before reporting to the House for its decision on a refreshed and updated Code and Rules
The Committee on Standards aims to ensure an open and informed discussion during each of these three stages, starting with oral evidence to consider whether the Code is fit for purpose and what can be learned from other similar professional codes, for politicians or for others.